INTRO
I
recently spent an evening wandering
around with a camera in downtown
Carrboro and Chapel Hill looking to
document the restaurant nightlife.
With the students back and the climate shifting to somewhat better eating
weather, both downtowns were hopping.
That was good to see.
It’s been a tough summer for restaurants. Gas prices and a flagging economy
— yes, even here — took their toll. Seats
were empty, and at the end of the night
tip totals reflected it.
So it’s nice to have the crowds back.
Within the comfortable, UNC Surplusfurnished offices of One Citizen Tower, we
had a running joke about changing the
name of MILL to MEAL for this, our first
food issue. We also scratched our heads a
bit about what to feature as a MILLwork,
a regular item on this page that highlights
a particular work of art. MILLworks have
included sculptures, photographs, silkscreens, paintings and drawings. But a work
of food, well, that was a tall order — or at
least it seemed like one.
Fortunately, there are a few local eateries whose food reaches into that artisan
category.
After a few chats about what might
be considered a food-based MILLwork, we
MILL
Matt and a
couple of
really good
friends.
Robert Dickson, P u b li s h e r
[email protected]
Kirk Ross, e di t o r
[email protected]
Liz Holm, a r t dir e c t o r
[email protected]
Marty Cassaday,
a d v e r t i s i n g dir e c t o r
[email protected]
Anne Billings, o f f i c e m a n a g e r
[email protected]
settled on a Manhattan from Neal’s Deli.
Certainly informing our decision was an
acquaintance with the deli’s wares (it’s 200
yards or so from Citizen Tower) and the fact
that it is a new and popular spot. Where
the artwork comes in is a key reason the
place is popular. Matt Neal’s pastrami and
Sheila Neal’s slaw and Russian dressing
— the Manhattan’s key ingredients — were
the result of a little inspiration and a lot of
perspiration. The Manhatten is also a work
in progress, with tweaks to the process
happening each time the smoker is fired up.
Smoked meats might not be your
thing. Like a lot of art, the Neals’ handi-
work isn’t trying to be all things to all
people. There’s plenty of cheap, lowestcommon denominator food out there, and
it’s got all the aesthetic value of a sadclown painting in a dentist office.
So celebrate the art of food with us.
Included in this issue is an extended edition of our new food column, The Eater, a
survey and directory of local restaurants
and a breakdown of the rapidly growing
number of greener grocers in our area.
As in every issue, we’ve also got tips
on this month’s offerings in music, arts,
literature and theater.
Enjoy your MEAL.
c o n t ri b u t o r s Taylor Sisk,
Jack Carley, Susan Dickson
and Phil Blank.
CONTACT US
The Carrboro Citzen
Box 248 Carrboro, NC 27510
Telephone: 919-942-2100
on the cover
photos BY KIRK ROSS
Burritos, Tacos, Nachos and Margaritas!
MILL
SEPTEMBER 2008 + carrborocitizen.com/mill
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